During the summer, Pope Francis issued his first encyclical, Lumen Fidei (The Light of Faith). An interdisciplinary panel of Saint Louis University faculty will bring insights from various disciplines to reflect on the new encyclical from 4 to 5:45 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 5, in the Loyola Room on the first floor of Jesuit Hall. Light refreshments will be served. Everyone is welcome.

Meant to supplement what Benedict XVI had written in his encyclical letters on charity and hope, as Benedict almost completed a first draft of the text before he stepped down, Lumen Fidei is the work of two popes.

Many contemporary voices propose that faith is the wrong road for humanity, warning that faith is "an illusion which blocks the path of a liberated humanity to its future." Is faith a light that points the way toward truth? How might faith illumine humanity's experience? The panel will consist of short presentations from five SLU faculty, each bringing the perspective of his or her experience and academic discipline to reflect on the new encyclical and its message about the light of faith, with discussion to follow.

SLU faculty panelists include:

Chris Collins, S.J. (theological studies)

John Greco (philosophy)

Paul Lynch (English)

Carol Needham (law)

Norman White (sociology and criminal justice)

This event is co-sponsored by the Arts and Sciences Interdisciplinary Forum and the Manresa Program in Catholic Studies at SLU.